Have you ever thought, “HMmm…. my hair definitely has a protein deficiency!”
🤷🏻♀️ - said no client ever.
From hard water to toxic hair products - women often think that when they have dry, damaged hair, they immediately think they only need a moisturizing treatment to address the hair health issue.
Protein and How It Affects the Hair
Our hair is primarily made up of chains of amino acids and proteins called keratin. Think of the hair as a building with keratin as the bricks. Because of overstyling, chemical treatments, and environmental stressors, keratins become worn out, creating gaps in the hair which eventually leads to leaking out your color, moisture barrier protection scales - and damage and breakage.
GOT YA CURIOUS?
Here are some blatant signs your hair is in dire need of protein and my number one expert recommendation of a Beauty Ecology Client Cult Favorite PROTECTANT SPRAY with equal parts moisture and protein.
Warning, too much protein can also make your hair feel brittle and dry - your cuticle is too FULL and it will break. To avoid this curveball from the confusion on the market- Repair and Protect Spray is for YOU (all hair types).
Does the hair need protein?
Fact: Hair is super porous.
Does your hair always look frazzled, coarse, and dry? Highly porous strands have tears and gaps in the hair, exposing the cortex to stressors. This causes the hair to absorb and release moisture faster than normal, leading to frizzy, tangled hair.
Hair looks limp and stringy.
Is the hair not as full and bouncy as it used to? Dull and limp hair is a sign of protein deficiency. Most women think it just needs a bit of hair styling product to bring it back to life, but this action actually compromises the health of the hair significantly. Layering more products on already weak hair will weigh it down, causing it to look stringy.
Hair has low elasticity.
Perform the a wet stretch test. Take about 10 strands and spray some water. Make sure to hold the hair tight then gently pull the hair. If the hair stretches and bounces back to its normal length without breaking, it means the hair is healthy. If it stretches and doesn’t return or stretches and breaks, then chances are your hair is missing protein.
Hair has been colored recently.
Hair color, bleach, and treatments contain chemicals that alter the bonds of the hair, leading to damage. These chemicals elevate the pH of the hair and causes the cuticles to rise. The longer the cuticles are raised up, the longer the cortex of the hair is exposed and, therefore, makes the hair more susceptible to protein loss and breakage.
There’s increased shedding and breakage.
We normally lose up to 100 strands a day. But if you are losing more hair that doesn’t come from the root, then it is a protein issue and needs to be addressed immediately.
Note: increased hair loss could be caused by many things: a hormonal imbalance, vitamin deficiencies, stress, autoimmune disorders, medications, chemotherapy and more.
It’s important to thoroughly consult and analyze the scalp and hair before deciding a lack of protein is the culprit. If you suspect hair loss, then I suggest looking at the Evoq Root Revival Hair Growth Dream Team is two times more powerful than drug based Minoxidil. Really!
Hair feels gummy.
Does the hair feel mushy and sticky? This could mean your hair’s support system is weak and has been over-moisturized, causing the texture to change and feel funny. Or worse, the hair has suffered from far too much lightening, causing it to feel like bubblegum.
While protein deficiency can be treated by simply changing your diet and lifestyle, there are several in-salon treatments you can do to replenish lost proteins in the hair.
Evoq Repair and Protect Spray is great at restoring chemically damaged hair by repairing it from the inside out to give the hair the moisture and minerals it needs to remain healthy.
Get the deets here…
This Organic (96%), weightless spray locks in gorgeous color, enhances style, blocks out humidity, and protects from premature color fading. It’s an essential first step of your styling routine and provides instant, weightless protection.
The nutrient-rich vitamins in this spray provide an extra dose of antioxidants for smooth, healthy-looking hair. And amino acids protect the hair from thermal damage, UV rays, and daily washing all while speeding up drying time and strengthening strands.
Aloe Vera - Protects and moisturizes hair as an emollient and antioxidant. Its composition of 18 amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals impart hair with a fortified moisture for healthy, smooth strands. Water is locked into strands due to its polysaccharide and sterol content.
Kelp Extract - A highly concentrated seaweed extract rich in minerals, trace elements, and vitamins for strand and scalp health. The rich iodine content helps treat and prevent dandruff.
Vitamin B - This active form of vitamin B is an emollient that instantly binds to the hair shaft and seals it, giving locks a healthy shine and reducing breakage and split ends.
Quinoa Protein - Rich in amino acids to promote hair and scalp follicle strength, fullness and softness while protecting hair from environmental damage.
Seed Oil Complex (Meadowfoam, Avocado & Shea) - Keeps hair feeling smooth and silky while antioxidant properties protect strands from free radical damage. Hair is imparted with a healthy shine and is easy to comb.
Lastly, address one of the ROOT CAUSES - SALON HAIR COLOR
Choosing less aggressive hair color and lighteners like BEAUTY ECOLOGY’S ZERO AMMONIA AND ENZYME (VERSUS PEROXIDE) ammonia-free and PROTEIN BASED CLAY ENLIGHTENER is also a great way to protect the hair from damage.
They DO NOT contain chemicals that put a lot of physical stress on the hair, which is often the reason strands become prone to split ends, breakage and protein loss.
THAT’S A WRAP, BABE!
Please reach out if I can help you repair your hair! xo - Kassandra